CASSIDY Coventry Blaze forward Tom Watkins is set to become the first player to serve ten consecutive seasons with the club.

The stalwart player, who joined the Blaze at the start of their first season in Coventry in 2000, has secured a further two seasons at the Skydome.

He has now played 550 games for the club in eight seasons, placing him second on the club's all time appearance list. During that time he has helped Blaze to win two British National League trophies and seven bmibaby Elite League titles, scoring 111 goals and 155 assists for a 266 point total.

"Tommy has become Mr Coventry," said delighted head coach Paul Thompson.

"I'm really pleased that he's coming back for his ninth and tenth seasons with us. He is simply invaluable to this organisation and this two-year contract endorses that view. He can play in any skating position and his versatility is without doubt his biggest strength and so important to our team.

"There was never a moment's thought from him about playing elsewhere or from me about not signing him. We sat down for about five minutes and the deal was done. That's a measure of how much the club means to him and how much he means to the club."

Watkins, aged 30, is also an established Great Britain international, most recently representing the team in April's World Championships in Austria where he recorded two goals.

The Durham-born player has been signed predominantly as a forward but has the ability to step in on defence when required. His contract will see him at the Blaze until the end of the 2009/10 season and will make him the first player to play ten full-time consecutive seasons with the club.

He said: "I'm so pleased to have secured a new two year contract with the Blaze as over the past eight seasons I've been part of some fantastic achievements with the club.

"I have so many great memories of my time here so far and it's amazing to have been part of seeing the club move on so much since our first game at the Skydome.

"I'm proud to have been part of so many trophy winning teams here and things like winning the Grand Slam and then last season beating Red Bull Salzburg in the Continental Cup are amazing to have experienced.

"I'm really looking forward to having more great memories and I now can't wait for the forthcoming season and the challenges that lie ahead."